Alarm and safety system



'IUHn SAI- tS, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES. gfiamh m 1933' A. A. BOWMAN 1,921,557

ALARM AND SAFETY SYSTEM Filed May 17, 1930 Z Sheets-Sheet l w a Z0 Z0 za g 3/ HA (I 1' I g E W t? QZJ' /3 l3 /5 J a in Z6 F W Z6 Z5 1 fi fi' W a Invent a fly 109. SAFES, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES.

Aug. 8, 1933.- A. A. BOWMAN ALARM AND SAFETY SYSTEM Filed'May 17,1930 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 have)? 01".

57 aft-02 719 AND RELATED DEVICES.

Patented Aug. 8, 1933 OFFICE ALARM AND SAFETY SYSTEM Alfred A. Bowman, Pleasanton, Calif.

Application May 17, 1930. Serial No. 453,306

4 Claims.

This invention relates to alarm signals and safety systems designed particularly for safeguarding banks or other business houses where the attendants are separated from the public by windowed partitions.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide window openings of banks or similar places of business with vertically slidable windows which are normally maintained in raised position by the interpositioning of certain solenoid controlled latches beneath the windows, these latches being releasable through the energization of the solenoids when any one of a plurality of circuit closing buttons which may be disposed at various points in the businesshouse, is pressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for cushioning the drop or descent of a gravity operated window when the means normally retaining it in raised position is withdrawn.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in combination with the means above described for releasing window guarded openings, means for simultaneously sounding an alarm signal when the said windows are released for closing.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a series of three window openings each of which is guarded by a slidable window and showing the release means and descent stopping means embodying the present invention in association with each window.

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram for electrically controlling the window releasing solenoids and showing the association therewith of the alarm signal.

Figure 3 is a detailed view in section of a window controlling solenoid showing the same holding the window in raised position.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing the position of the solenoids following the release of the window.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of one of the window descent stoppers or shock absorbers before a Window comes into contact therewith.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the position of the shock absorber after the window has passed the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals of reference indicate correspond ing parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates generally a windowed partition of the character normally found in banks, in which there is shown three window openings each of which is indicated by a numeral 2.

In suitable trackways at the sides of the window openings there is mounted to move a window 3 which comprises a metal frame and a glasspanel 4 fi ifimlqll QUE? l zlll' i The frame of eaEiIi windGK Whas projecting inwardly from its inner face and adjacent the lower end thereof at each side a pin 5. As shown when the windows 3 are raised these pins 5 will be disposed substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the window trackways.

Disposed at each side of each window opening substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the window trackways is a solenoid 6, the casing '7 therefor being provided with suitable laterally projecting ears 8 which position against the adjacent side of the window track and have passed. therethrough securing screws 9 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each of these solenoids has a core 10 one end of which is adapted to project over the adjacent side of the adjacent window as shown in Figure 3 and this end of the solenoid is undercut or beveled as indicated at 11 so that when the window is raised the pins 5 may readily pass the cores of the solenoids by pressing against these undercut ends and thus forcing them in against the tension of a spring 12 which surrounds the inner end of each solenoid core and normally tends to force it to the position shown in Figure 3 where it overlies the inner face of the adjacent window. It will thus be seen that when the windows are raised the pins 5 will pass the projecting ends of the cores of the adjacent solenoids and these cores will then be projected out by the springs 12 until they are in a position beneath the pins preventing the downward movement of the pins and thus acting to maintain the adjacent window in raised position.

At the lower end of each window opening and at each side thereof is a check device which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 13 which checks the downward movement of the window when the same is released by the solenoids 6 as will be hereinafter described, so that the window may close by gravitational action. Each of these check devices comprises a cylinder 14 mounted substantially horizontally at the side of the window opening, in which is a piston 15 having formed therethrough a relatively small opening 16 which passes air from one side of the piston to the other when the same is reciprocated in the cylinder but so slowly that the piston cannot be moved rapidly in either direction in the cylinder. Each piston 15 carries a rod 17 which extends a substantial distance from each face thereof and through the adjacent end of the cylinder, that end of the rod 17 nearest the window having a lateral extension 18 which is loosely connected in a slot 19 formed longitudinally of and through an arm 20 which is pivotally mounted adjacent the window as at 21 to swing in a plane across the face of the window and parallel thereto. It will thus be seen that when this arm 20 has its free end swung over before the adjacent window opening, under the action of the spring 22, it will be directly in the path of a pin 5 when the window is lowered.

As illustrated in Figure 6 when the window is allowed to drop the pin will come into contact with the upper edge of the arm 20 and swing the same over toward the side of the window opening thus forcing the piston 15 connected with the arm laterally with respect to the window. Due to the enforced slow movement of the piston 15 it will be readily seen that the descent of the window will be effectively checked.

In Figure 2 there is shown in diagram the electric circuit used in association with the solenoids 6 which control the windows to retain them in open position. As shown these solenoids connect between the two sides of the circuit lines indicated by the numerals 23, this line being connected through the medium of a suitable transformer 24 with the electrical wiring system of the building in which the device is to be used. The circuit 23 in which the solenoids 6 are placed is controlled by a series of push buttons 25 which buttons may be disposed at various points within the building or the room in which the windowed partition is placed. From this circuit it will be readily seen that by pressing any one of the buttons 25 all of the windows may be instantly closed for all of the solenoids will be simultaneously energized so that their cores will be retracted from beneath the adjacent window pins 5 thus allowing the windows to drop through the action of gravity. In addition to the buttons 25 which control all of the solenoids, each pair of solenoids is controlled by a single button, these single buttons being indicated by the numerals 26 and as shown in Figure 1 are preferably disposed adjacent the window which is affected when the button is pressed.

Associated with the circuit 23 is a signal bell circuit having the current carrying sides or wires 27 and 27'. One of these wires, as for example the wire 27 connects the bell 28 with the transformer 24 and continues past the latter running to one of each of the shock absorbing devices 13 as shown in the diagram. The other wire of this circuit has connection with the other side of the bell 28 and also connects with the others of the shocking absorbing devices 13.

With this arrangement the bell will remain silent as long as the windows are raised but as soon as any one or all of the same are closed the sides 27 and 27 will be connected through the medium of the metal frame of the window which connects the two shock absorbers thus causing the bell 28 to become active and to give the desired alarm. By placing the bell 28 upon the outside of the bank building or other business house where the system is used it will be readily understood that a general alarm will be given as soon as one of the windows or all of the windows are closed.

At the bottom of each of the windows at each side thereof there is placed a solenoid 29 of the same character as the solenoid at each side of the window adjacent the upper portion thereof. Each of these solenoids 29 has the core disposed to extend through the adjacent portion of the frame of the window opening to engage, when the window within the opening is closed, in a notch 30 in the edge of the window frame. The upper corner of the end of the core of each solenoid adjacent the lower side of each window is beveled so that when the window moves downwardly to closed position the core will be forced back against the tension of a spring 31 so that the window may pass. The spring 31 exerts its influence to project the attached solenoid core into the recess 30 as soon as the same moves into the proper position. From this it will be seen that as soon as a window frame is lowered it will be locked and held against movement upwardly by the cores of the solenoids at each side of the lower portion thereof and can only be released by the energization of the solenoids 29 to cause the cores thereof to be retracted.

This energization of these solenoids is accomplished as shown in the diagram forming Figure 2 of the drawings, by pressing one of the buttons 25 or the buttons 26.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that a banking institution or other business house equipped with the signal embodying the present invention may be instantly made secure against a hold-up for as soon as any one of the attendants within the institution becomes aware of the intention of the person or persons before the windows one of the buttons 26 or 25 may be pressed to cause the windows to instantly close and thus protect the valuables behind the windows.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:-

1. The combination with a gravity closed closure element, of a cushioning device comprising a cylinder having an apertured reciprocable piston therein, said cylinder being horizontally arranged adjacent the lower portion of the opening controlled by the closure element, an oscillatable arm pivotally mounted at one end adjacent said opening and having its other end extending thereinto in the path of the closure element, a piston rod connecting the said other end of the arm with said piston, and means normally urging the said other end of the arm into the path of movement of the closure element when the same is lowered to check the movement thereof.

2. In a system of the character described, a window structure having a metallic frame, a pair of shiftable elements disposed at opposite sides of the window structure and electrically connected by said frame when the window is in closed. position, an electric circuit having a source of electrical energy therein, and a signal element in said circuit, said elements being electrically connected in said circuit, and said signal element being energized upon the closing of the circuit by the moving of said frame into contact with the elements.

109. SA! to, BANK PHU l U I IUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

3. In an alarm and safety system of the character described, a window having a frame and a sash slidable therein, a pair of electric current conducting elements each oscillatably mounted at one side of said frame and normally extending inwardly, an electric signal circuit having two sides each having connection with one of said elements, a signal element and a source of electrical current supply in said circuit, said sash when moved to closed position engaging said elements, and means for establishing an electrical connection between said elements through the sash to close said signal circuit, when the sash is in closed position.

4. The combination with a gravity closed window having a frame, of a cushioning element for checking the descent of the window, comprising a cylinder mounted at one side of the window semen mom frame and having a piston slidably mounted therein, the piston having an air bleed passage therethrough, a rod connected with said piston and extending through the end of the cylinder adjacent the frame, an arm oscillatably mounted at one end upon the frame and having a longitudinal slot therein adjacent the other end, said rod having a lateral extension slidably engaging into said slot, a spring element normally urging the rod engaged end of said arm to move into the area defined by the window frame, and a pin member carried by the window sash at the lower end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom for engagement with said arm when the sash is lowered to swing the arm and move said piston in the cylinder.

ALFRED A. BOWMAN. 

